reinterpretations of the ankh symbol part 2 - Asar Imhotep

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of the blood (Egyptian snfw “blood”) with an affiliated removal of carbon dioxide and other
gaseous metabolic wastes from the circulation. As gas exchange occurs, the acid-base balance of the
body is maintained as part of homeostasis. If proper ventilation is not maintained, two opposing
conditions could occur: respiratory acidosis, a life threatening condition, and respiratory alkalosis.
The Ebers Medical Papyrus (1557-1530 BCE) informs us that the ancient Egyptians were very
familiar with the circulatory system, its importance and its proper functional characteristics. 6 For
instance (pEbers 99, 1-12):
hAt-a m sStA n swnw
Introduction to the secret lore of the doctor
rx Smt hAty rx HAty
Knowledge of the heart’s movement, and of the heart.
iw mtw im.f n at nbt
There are vessels inside it leading to each member.
ir nw rdiw swnw nb sxmt-wab nb sAw nb
Thus, when any doctor, surgeon (literally, priest of Sekhmet), or exorcist
awy dbaw.f Hr tp
places his hands or fingers on the head,
Hr mkHA Hr drwt hr st ib
on the back of the head, on the hands, on the position of the heart itself
Hr awy Hr rdwy nb
on the limbs or on any other part,
xAi.f n HAty
in so doing he in fact examines the heart,
Hr ntt mtw.f n at.f nbt
because the heart’s vessels lead to each of the (patient’s) members;
nt pw mdw.f xnt mtw nw at nbt
in other words, the heart speaks within the vessels of each member 7
The Papyrus Ebers is humanity’s first medical encyclopedia. In the above passage is the first
historical reference for taking a pulse. This text demonstrates that the Egyptians had discovered
that the heart was the main motor of the human body and it is the starting point for the irrigation of
the whole organism. The blood needs oxygen to help get rid of metabolic waste in the circulatory
system. That’s where the processes mentioned above involving the thorax come into play. It also
speaks to why we need pure oxygen in our bodies. If our air is toxic, the oxygen can’t properly
cleanse our system.
THE ANKH AND THE BLOOD
In the upcoming publication Ogun, African Fire Philosophy and the Meaning of KMT (2011) I discuss,
in part, the possible relationship between the anx symbol and the blood (so essential to life).
Because it is a minor point within a larger context of the book, I will expand my initial findings here
as it is even more relevant to this discourse.
6 However they considered this a one-way process.
7 Cited in Obenga (2005: 371-372)